Amazon announces free same-day collection for Prime members in the UK

Amazon UK has today announced a new same-day collection service, available free for Prime subscribers. The online retail giant will allow Prime members to have a package delivered to a chosen collection point within 12 hours, part of its Click & Collect service. If you're not a Prime member, you'll have to part with £4.99 for the luxury.

Selecting same-day collection when checking out, orders placed before 11:45am will be available for collection by 4pm. Ordering before 7:45pm will ensure the package is ready at the desired pick-up point by 6:30am the following morning. It's an ideal service for those who simply cannot hold off for standard (or even next-day) delivery times.

You can even order things on Sunday with this new service. Supporting newsagents and convenience stores across the UK will carry "Pass my Parcel" branding, which will highlight available pick-up locations for Amazon shoppers. As touched on above, Prime members will be able to use the service for free until the end of this year.

More than 500 stores are participating in the new collection service, which sees Amazon team up with newspaper and magazine distributor Smiths News, a division of Connect Group. More stores are planned to be added next year.

Expect to see the option for same-day collection added to delivery options soon.